Oscura: Lost Light combines puzzle elements with some old school platformer mechanics to create an adventure that sees you moving across a dark setting to refresh the light that has been lost. Released in 2015 the game has similarities to Limbo released half a decade earlier although is much more than just a clone of this popular title. The game also serves as a prequel to other Oscura games (Oscura and Oscura: Second Shadow) by exploring the origins of the world and the fate of the lighthouse keeper before Oscura.
In Oscura: Lost Light players taken on the role of Oscura who is an apprentice lighthouse keeper in the Driftlands game world who has unfortunately destroyed the Aurora Stone. This stone is pivotal to protecting the lands by casting a powerful light across the Driftlands that pushes back the creatures of darkness and has done so for all of known history. With the shards of the Oscura now spread across the Driftlands it has been plunged into darkness and peril that players must traverse in order to restore it before creatures of the dark can destroy these shards instead and create a new eternity of darkness.
While an unfortunate event that now puts the fate of the only world you’ve ever known on the line the accident wasn’t all bad as it also bestowed the power of fire on Oscura. Now able to conjure power from within your hand you’ll use this as your main weapon in the puzzle platform blend that Oscura: Lost Light offers.
In total players will find that this fire power provides four different powers that each have their specific usage throughout the story exploration. Broadly these are the powers of control over destruction, construction, gravity and time which serve as the primary mechanics for many of the puzzles. Maybe you’ll want to destroy something that lies in your path or manipulate gravity and time to allow you to progress past that obstacle instead.
While players have these powers within their hand Oscura: Lost Light is not one to encourage combat and instead pushes players towards using their wit to outsmart the large range of enemies as direct combat is generally not an option. With enemy names like the Lost Ones, Grymfus, Cursed Skulls and Shagrims the world is a deadly one and players can likely picture just how horrific these dark creatures are.
Some of these creatures and puzzle mechanics draw from the wealth of content in the other titles in the franchise (Oscura and Oscura: Second Shadow) although are primarily fresh ideas to ensure returning players are challenged once again. As Lost Light is actually the prequel to these games you’ll need not play them first but it will enhance the adventure if you do decide to pick them up on their respective platforms.
Overall Oscura: Lost Light is a great offering in the genre, the visual design is particularly satisfying which when paired with the unique puzzles it’s worthy of your consideration, especially with additional games to enjoy after this one if you enjoy the adventure.
Summary:
- A journey across the Driftlands to collect the shards of the Aurora Stone which provides a powerful protective light.
- Use the four powers of destruction, construction, time and gravity to overcome dark creatures and puzzles.
- Explore the origins of the Oscura franchise in this prequel to the other two games in the franchise.
- Challenging puzzles and plenty of enemies to overcome that have plenty of variety.
- Puzzle exploration adventure available on Mac, Linux and Windows.
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Review Platform: PC
